Don’t Believe The Media’s Narrative About Trump’s Immigration Plan

According to a recent Fox News Latino poll, 90% of Hispanics want a path to legal status for illegal immigrants. The very same poll shows Hillary Clinton beating Donald Trump by 39 percent among Latino voters.

The article that accompanied the poll quoted Daniel Garza, executive director of the Libre Initiative, a conservative organization that advocates legalization for illegal immigrants:

“On the one hand, you have a candidate who is taking a harsh position on immigration. On the other hand, you have a candidate who has deliberately overpromised.”

It also quotes Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC):

“It’s really pushing back against the rhetoric. It shows remarkable agreement in the Latino community that the solution is not deporting millions of people…”

This is the narrative that’s been weaved by the media throughout the campaign. Trump hates immigrants, he wants them all gone, and Hillary is the only compassionate candidate. I have some news for those who make the news: Trump isn’t against legalization, and he isn’t anti-illegal immigrant.

On the Hillary Clinton website, it says that the former Secretary of State will:

“Enact comprehensive immigration reform to create a pathway to citizenship, keep families together, and enable millions of workers to come out of the shadows.”

During one of the Democratic debates, Clinton noted that she plans to deport “violent criminals…and anyone who threatens our safety.”

Donald Trump’s plan isn’t much different. The billionaire has said that the bad guys need to go, but he’s also an advocate of what’s known as “touchback,” in which illegal immigrants are deported, then provided an expedited means of re-entry so that they can become legal.

“I would get people out and then have an expedited way of getting them back into the country so they can be legal…A lot of these people are helping us…and sometimes it’s jobs a citizen of the United States doesn’t want to do. I want to move ’em out, and we’re going to move ’em back in and let them be legal.”

That doesn’t seem so cruel. Trump knows that those here illegally are contributing members of society because they take many jobs Americans simply won’t. He knows that deporting illegals permanently would be ludicrous.

Trump’s son, Eric, repeated the idea of his dad’s touchback plan when speaking with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly in November:

“The point isn’t just deporting them, it’s deporting them and letting them back in legally. He’s been so clear about that and I know the liberal media wants to misconstrue it, but its deporting them and letting them back legally.”

Donald Trump’s approach would essentially entail a compassionate following of the law. He’s not the monster the media wants you to believe he is.

In 2012, he even told Fox News:

“For people that have been here for years that have been hard-workers, have good jobs, they’re supporting their family–it’s very, very tough to just say ‘By the way, 22 years, you have to leave. Get out’…I’m one of the world’s very conservative people, but I have to tell you on a human basis, how do you throw somebody out that’s lived in this country for twenty years?”

Donald Trump is a compassionate guy trying to follow the law, but still give the 11-12 million undocumented immigrants a chance to stay in the United States, where many have lived and worked for years.

Those who haven’t committed violent crimes, or broken the law aside from entering the country illegally, and committing minor infractions as a result of their undocumented status, will get to come right back.

Don’t let the media fool you. Trump can win the Hispanic vote because he has a compassionate, comprehensive immigration plan.

Frank Camp breathes politics--that, and regular air. After the 2004 election ignited a passion for politics in Frank, he's been dedicated to understanding what makes people think the way they do. His goal at Constitution.com is to arm his fellow conservatives with the tools they need to fight the liberal army in an effective and persuasive manner.